The human body has 37 trillion cells. If we can work out what they all do, the results could revolutionise healthcare

Pioneered by the Human Cell Atlas consortium, our understanding of the human body is about to be transformed – and with it, the way we treat and prevent disease

Daniel M Davis, Professor of Immunology, University of Manchester • conversation
July 7, 2022 ~24 min

Research on genomic history of remote Pacific islands yields surprising findings

New genetic research shows untold migration to remote Pacific islands was generally matrilocal.

Juan Siliezar • harvard
July 6, 2022 ~7 min


Virus discovery offers clues to the start of complex life

A new study suggests fresh directions for exploring the hypothesis that viruses were essential to the evolution of complex life, including humans.

Marc Airhart-Texas • futurity
June 28, 2022 ~5 min

One in 500 men carry extra sex chromosome, putting them at higher risk of several common diseases

Around one in 500 men could be carrying an extra X or Y chromosome – most of them unaware – putting them at increased risk of diseases such as type 2 diabetes,

Cambridge University News • cambridge
June 10, 2022 ~5 min

New CRISPR-based map ties every human gene to its function

Jonathan Weissman and collaborators used their single-cell sequencing tool Perturb-seq on every expressed gene in the human genome, linking each to its job in the cell.

Eva Frederick | Whitehead Institute • mit
June 9, 2022 ~9 min

Evolutionary split of brown bears and polar bears is complex

Rather than simple splitting events, the evolution of polar bears and brown bears are like those of humans, a tangled story of divergence and interbreeding.

Charlotte Hsu-Buffalo • futurity
June 9, 2022 ~9 min

'Jurassic World' scientists still haven't learned that just because you can doesn't mean you should – real-world genetic engineers can learn from the cautionary tale

As genetic engineering and DNA manipulation tools like CRISPR continue to advance, the distinction between what science ‘could’ and ‘should’ do becomes murkier.

Andrew Maynard, Professor of Responsible Innovation, Arizona State University • conversation
June 9, 2022 ~11 min

Genetic paparazzi are right around the corner, and courts aren't ready to confront the legal quagmire of DNA theft

Both Macron and Madonna have expressed concerns about genetic privacy. As DNA collection and sequencing becomes increasingly commonplace, what may seem paranoid may instead be prescient.

Yaniv Heled, Associate Professor of Law, Georgia State University • conversation
June 3, 2022 ~8 min


To track sea turtles, get DNA from the sand

Sand and water samples contain enough environmental DNA to track the whereabouts of endangered sea turtles, report researchers.

Natalie van Hoose-Florida • futurity
May 26, 2022 ~8 min

DNA offers link to ancient Indigenous people of Uruguay

European colonial forces targeted an Indigenous group in Uruguay, the Charrúa, for elimination. Now, ancient DNA offers a link back.

Carol Clark-Emory • futurity
May 18, 2022 ~7 min

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